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Recent Stranding Cases

On January 14, 2013 volunteers from the Long Marine Lab Stranding Network responded to an 800+ pound California Sea Lion that had stranded on Main Beach in Santa Cruz, CA. Given the size of the animal, LML Stranding Network Manager, Dr. Robin Dunkin, worked with officials from the city of Santa Cruz to coordinate a beach necropsy and subsequent burial. The adult male sea lion was in overall good body condition but appeared to have a lung infection. The histology results are currently pending.

In addition to determining what might have been the cause of death for this individual, additional samples including stomach contents and urine were collected. Analysis of these samples for domoic acid and paralytic shellfish toxin from every fresh dead animal to which we respond, helps us contribute to baseline monitoring of these toxins through the WARRN-West program. You can read more about this program here.

A male California Sea Lion Stranded on Main Beach on January 14, 2013.Stranding volunteers Linda Minor, Doug Ross, and Elena Cholula helped Robin Dunkin with a beach necropsy to help determine the cause of death of this 800+ male sea lion.